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Age-related outcomes in laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair: Is there a “too old” for antireflux surgery?

  • 2019 EAES Oral
  • Published:
Surgical Endoscopy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Minimally invasive antireflux surgery has been shown to be safe and effective for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) in elderly patients. However, there is a paucity of data on the influence of advanced age on long-term quality of life (QoL) and perioperative outcomes after laparoscopic antireflux surgery (LARS).

Method

A retrospective study of patients undergoing LARS between February 2012 and June 2018 at a single institution was conducted. Patients were divided into four age categories. Perioperative data and quality of life (QOL) outcomes were collected and analyzed.

Results

A total of 492 patients, with mean follow-up of 21 months post surgery, were included in the final analysis. Patients were divided into four age-determined subgroups (< 50:75, 50–65:179, 65–75:144, ≥ 75:94). Advancing age was associated with increasing likelihood of comorbid disease. Older patients were significantly more likely to require Collis gastroplasty (OR 2.09), or concurrent gastropexy (OR 3.20). Older surgical patients also demonstrated increased operative time (ß 6.29, p < .001), length of hospital stay (ß 0.56, p < .001) in addition to increased likelihood of intraoperative complications (OR 2.94, p = .003) and reoperations (OR 2.36, p < .05). However, postoperative QoL outcomes and complication rates were parallel among all age groups.

Conclusions

Among older patients, there is a greater risk of intraoperative complications, reoperation rates as well as longer operative time and LOS after LARS. However, a long-term QoL benefit is demonstrated among elderly patients who have undergone this procedure. Rather than serving as an exclusion criterion for surgical intervention, advanced age among chronic reflux patients should instead represent a comorbidity addressed in the planning stages of LARS.

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Funding

No financial support was received for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Anne Arundel Medical Center, Annapolis, MD, USA

    Alex Addo, Zachary Sanford, Andrew Broda, H. Reza Zahiri & Adrian Park

  2. Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Anne Arundel Medical Center, 2000 Medical Parkway, Belcher Pavilion, Suite 106, Annapolis, MD, 21401, USA

    Adrian Park

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  1. Alex Addo
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Correspondence to Adrian Park.

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Dr. Park, Addo, Zahiri, Sanford, and Mr. Broda have no conflict of interest or financial or relevant financial ties to disclose.

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Addo, A., Sanford, Z., Broda, A. et al. Age-related outcomes in laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair: Is there a “too old” for antireflux surgery?. Surg Endosc 35, 429–436 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-020-07489-5

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